Obituary of Lela K. Freiman

Lela K. Freiman, 84 1/4, passed away peacefully in her sleep on January 27, 2024. Lela was born in Mississippi on the Natchez Trace because her father, Lyle Linch, was in the National Park Service. She lived in Fort Madison, Iowa and in the National Parks of Rocky Mountain, Colorado; Badlands, South Dakota; Pipestone, Minnesota; and Chalmette, Louisiana before graduating from Chalmette High School.

Lela earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Iowa and her Master's from the University of Arizona. Lela taught High School Speech, Drama, and English in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin for 7 years. Moving to Tucson in 1971, she taught First Aid & CPR for the American Red Cross and Pima Community College and was on the Red Cross Disaster Action Team. She was the school nurse at Davidson Elementary for 3 years. For 8 years Lela taught Special Education and sponsored the Student Council at Naylor Junior High - receiving the ARC Mainstream Teacher of the Year. Lela's last 14 years teaching were at Sahuaro High School where she had the largest drama program in the state and received Arizona Theater Educator of the Year.

Lela gave well over 500 volunteer service hours every year to a variety of organizations and served on many Boards. Lela taught Sunday school, Vacation Bible School, and was on the church council for Our Savior's Lutheran Church. In 1983 she was the 3rd female to receive the Southern Arizona Lutheran Scouters' Cross & Crown Award. For 64 years Lela was an active member of the Girl Scouts. She was the leader of Daisy, Junior & Senior Scout troops. She served on the Gold Award committee and mentored many girls on their Gold Award projects. Lela, whose Girl Scout camp name was Chave', worked 17 years at Camp Whispering Pines on Mt. Lemmon (six as the director) and then held six Camp Broadway events and many workshops there. Lela received the Thanks Badge and Thanks Badge 2 - the two highest awards for adult Girl Scouts. Lela was the adult representative for Arizona at the White House and had lunch with Nancy Reagan. In 2024 Lela received the Juliette Gordon Low Legacy Award for her lifetime impact on Girl Scouting and the performance stage at Camp Whispering Pines was named in her honor.

Lela enjoyed traveling. For her 50th birthday, she rafted the Colorado River. Lela made it to all 50 states as well as traveling in 41 countries around the world. Her favorite places were Alaska, Arizona, and Australia. In 2019, Mayor Rothschild presented Lela with the key to the city of Tucson.

Lela is survived by her brother John (Martha) Linch, sister Judy (Mike) Thompson, daughter Jenny (Cliff) Bowers, and many nieces and nephews. Lela's favorite charities: Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona, Live Theater Workshop, Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, Sister Jose's Center for Women, AZ Daily Star's Sportsman's Send a Kid to Camp, Unscrewed Theater, and any High School Theater program. A memorial service will be held at Bring's Funeral Home, 6910 E. Broadway Blvd., on Saturday, February 10, 2024 at 9:00am.